Piano



Sept 17, 1940- c. FARNY 2,215,097

Sept. 17, 1940. C, FARNY 2,215,097

PIANO Filed April 19, 195B 2 Sheets-SheetI 2 Patented Sept. 17, 1940,

nate? PATENT OFFICE PIAN O` Cyril Farny, St. Charles, Ill., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, De Kalb, Ill., a

corporation of Ohio Application April 19, 1938, Serial N0. 202,851

11 Claims.

This invention is concerned with certain features of construction of a piano case in relation to the sounding board and string plate which it houses. The important object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple case adapted to permit the emanation of a satisfactory volume and quality of tone without necessitating the adjustment of any portions of the casing. In other words, a grand piano embodying this invention may be made with a fixed top so that it is not necessary to raise the lid over the strings in order to secure the proper tone; the side wall or rim is provided with openings in direct registration with the position of the strings and sounding board, so that the tone chamber formed between the sounding board and the lid is laterally open. Similarly, in an upright type of piano the tone chamber formed between the sounding board and the front panel opens outwardly at either end or side of the piano through the side walls of the casing, such openings registering with the position of the strings and sounding board, and

providing for direct release of a satisfactory volume of tone without adjustment of the parts. One form of the invention involves a simplified structure in the interest of economy, dispensing with a separate rim by arranging for the main frame to be exteriorly finished, and to be supplemented by grilles occupying the space between the upper edge of the frame and the top wall of the case. The invention consists in certain features and elements of construction in combination, as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims. This application is, in part, a continuation of my application Serial No. 68,370, filed March 12, 1936. y

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a grand piano embodying one form of this invention, but with the string plate, strings and sounding board removed to disclose the frame construction.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same piano, partly in section for further disclosing details of interior construction, and to show the relation of the frame to the strings and sounding board.

Figure 3 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 3-3 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a three-quarter perspective view of another style of grand piano in which the frame and rim more nearly follow conventional practice, but in which the rimr is provided with openings for the emanation of sound in accordance with this invention.

Figure 5 is a detail section taken as indicated -55 at line 5-5 on Figure 4, for indicating the relation. of the openings in the rim to the strings and sounding board.

Figure 6 is a three-quarter perspective view of a small vertical or upright piano embodying certain principles of this invention in that its side l walls are formed with openings registering with the position of the strings inside the case.

Figure 'l is a detail section taken substantially as indicated at line 1 1 on Figure 6.

In the conventional grand piano construction` in which the case includes a convex curve at the end opposite the key-bed, and a concave curve at the right-hand side, the frame which supports the sounding board is usually made of laminated construction of about iive layers of wood` bent to conform to the desired curvatures and glued together face to face. Supported upon this frame, and enclosing it, is the rim which may consist of from eight to fourteen laminations of thin ply-wood, bent and glued together, and including the outer finished surface material, usually a wood veneer. The rim is ordinarily deeper than the frame, because it extends above the upper edge of the frame to enclose or house the sounding board, string plate and the strings which are mounted upon the frame. Engaging the upper edge of the rim there is usually provided a lid which may be raised at an angle to permit the emanation of sound from the strings when the piano is played. The construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 may be considered as combining the frame and rim into a unitary structure, or as eliminating the rim by constructing the frame so that it may appear as a finished portion of the case with its external surface or surfaces treated in any desired ornamental manner.

Figure 1 shows the frame composed of several straight pieces I which need not be built up or laminated, but may be solid or integral beams.

If, as a matter of design, some curvature is dep l sired, it may be understood that these frame elements may be bent or sawed to conform to such curvature. But for purposes of illustration I have shown a frame in which each of the elements l is substantially straight. The frame members l are joined end to end in any suitable manner; as indicated in Figure 2, these joints are shown as of the interlapping dove-tail type. At each end of the space occupied by the hammer action the frame member, indicated at la, may` be slightly deeper than the other frame members l to providethe necessary compartment kabove the key-bed 2; otherwise, the frame is of uniform depth on all three sides. The depth of lthe frame members l is such that the sounding board 3 may rest directly upon their upper edges, and a string plate fr may be super-imposed upon the sounding board in its usual relation thereto, with strings la disposed as indicated in Figure 2.

The space between the sounding board and the top or cover 5 is laterally enclosed by a grille, which may consist of panels G corresponding respectively to the sections i i@ of the frame itself, and designed to perniit emanation of sound from the strings laterally and without necessitating the raising of the cover 5 as in the conventional grand piano. rEhe wall opposite the strings, which, in a grand piano, is the top o1' cover 5, may be supported in spaced relation to the frame members by any suitable means, such as posts l, which may be conveniently disposed above the junction pcnnts between adjacent frame members i and which may be secured in position by metallic angle brackets 8 having foot flanges il resting directly upon the top surfaces of the frame members i. If desired, these brackets S may 'themselves constitute the post elements, but if a wood finish is preferred, the posts 'i may be of wood, and will form external coverings for the metallic brackets 8 blending suitably with the wood construction of the grille panels The grille panels 6 may include inner cot' of reticulated material, such as silk, --.ch will effectively hide the strings and string plate; this avoids the necessity and expense of the present elaborate finish which is new given the plate casting because it is so fully exposed when the hinged type of top is lifted. rFhis construction, with the fixed top spaced above the strings, and with openings in the sides of the case registering with this space between the strings and the top, provides a tone chamber which results in a very satisfactory quality in the tone of the instrument. Incidentally, this of construction will be found quite economical, although it lends itself readily to decorative effects, which have not been possible with previous grand piano designs.

The frame may be braced in any desired manner, as, for xample, by the brace members ID shown in the drawings as radiating from a suitable anohor plate ll attached to the cross member l2 which is disposed in the usual location above the rear edge of the key-bed 2. The braces ill may be secured to the frame members I in any preferred manner, as, for example, by screws or bolts i3 passing directly through the frame members and braces, or by specially designed metallic nttings, such as the brackets shown at i3@` The braces ill are preferably made narrower in vertical dimension than the frame members l so as to leave ample clearance between the braces and the usual ribs M on the under side of the sounding board It will be recognized that the grille panels 8 may be of any desired ornamental design, and may be of wood, metal or other material, and that the particular height of the grilles may be varied, as desired, to secure satisfactory tone quality and volume,-the proportions shown being merely such as to give the instrument approximately the outlines of the present conventional grand piano.

Figure 4 illustrates a small grand piano which may be understood as including both a frame and a rim. A small portion of this piano is shown in section in Figure 5, in which the frame is indicated at 2G, and the rim at 2l, The rim may include a portion 22 just back of the keys and narrow portions 23 at intervals, extending to the plane of the top 24 so that the latter is supported in spaced relation to the upper surface of the frame 2U. This provides a tone chamber in which the sounding board the string plate 25, and the strings 2, are disposed, And adjacent the narrow portions there are provided openings in the case which, in this construction, may be considered as formed in the rim, and which register laterally with the space occupied by the strings and sounding board and permit the emanation of sound laterally from the instrument. In this particular style these lateral openings are sub-divided by externally applied horizontal moldings 2S extending around the rim parallel to the top 24 so that the lateral openings appear as slots or louvres 29 in the rim. They may be left open, or may be backed with some thin reticulated material, such as silk or other fabric. rEhe top 24 may be made removable for convenience, but the openings or louvres E@ in the case, will provide for a satisfactory volurne and quality of tone under all ordinary circumstances. It will be understood that, as a matter of construction, the narrow portions 23 may be separate elements from the lower portion of the rim 2i, but that, preferably, they are disposed in the saine planes,-that is, in vertical registration therewith; and for the sake of strength, the portions 22 and 23 may be joined by a rail portion 35, which thus constitutes the upper edge of the rim and directly supports the top panel 2li.

in Figure 6 I have shown a small vertical type of piano in which the sounding board and strings are disposed in vertical planes, and are concealed by a vertical front panel 3i of the case. The end walls 32 of the case are formed with openings 33 which may be arranged with any desired ornamental grilles or other design features, and which are located in registration with the sound chamber in which the strings 34 and string plate 35 are disposed, as shown in section in Figure 7. Within the case there is the usual frame 35 which supports the sounding board 3l and the string plate 35. Thus, instead of acting as a closed box to shut in the sound, the case constructed with the openings 33 in its end walls readily permits the emanation of sound laterally from the instrument, so that it supplies a satisfactory volume of pleasing tone quality without requiring the movemnt 0r adjustment of any panels or wall sections. As in the other two forms of the invention already described, the openings 33 may be backed up with silk or other fabric which will not interfere materially with the emanation of sound, but may serve to hide the internal structure and to render the case more nearly dust-proof. If desired, the top wall 38 may be provided with one or more openings 39 disposed in the same relation to the strings as the openings 33, The usual music desk has been omitted from Figure 6 in order to show these openings 39 more clearly.

It will be recognized that the special feature which is common to all three structures herein y shown and described is the provision of lateral openings in the piano case permanently incorporated in its construction, and requiring no adjustable features to permit the emanation of sound from the strings which are disposed within the case substantially in registration with said openings; and it will be further recognized that this type of construction need not impair the appearance of the instrument, but, on the contrary, may become available as a definitely ornamental feature of its design. While I have shown and described herein certain specic structures embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various further modincations and re-arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described, except in so far as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a piano, a string plate, a sounding board at one side of the string plate and a case which includes a wall ixedly supported in spaced relation to the string plate in a plane substantially parallel thereto and at the opposite side of the string plate from` said sounding board, with a laterally disposed grille extending transversely of the plane of the string plate registering with the space between said wall and the sounding board to permit emanation of sound laterally from the instrument.

2. In a grand piano, a frame composed mainly of straight integral Wooden members joined end to end and extending horizontally in position to support the string plate, metallic posts each including an upright portion and a foot flange extending across the joint between two adjacent members oi the frame and secured to the upper surfaces of said members, and a top supported by said posts in spaced relation to the upper surface of the -frame to afford openings between the posts for the emanation of sound laterally from the instrument.

3. In a grand piano, a frame composed mainly ci straight integral wooden members joined end to end and extending horizontally in position to support the string plate, posts each including metallic portion having an upright part with root anffe, said flange being secured to the upper surfaces of two adjacent frame members and overlapping the joint between them, and an extenal finish member secured to the outer surface of the upright part, and a top supported by said posts in spaced relation to the upper surface of the frame to afford openings between the posts for the emanation of sound laterally from the instrument.

In a grand piano in combination with the structure dened in claim 3, grille panels extending iroin post to post in the spaces between the frame and the top and abutting the finish members of the posts.

5. In a grand piano in combination with a horizontally disposed string plate, a case includig a traine on which the string plate is suprted, a rim encompassing the frame and a :op upported in spaced relation over the string il e having openings in the rim regisering with the space between the string plate and the top to permit emanation of sound laterally from the instrument.

6. In a grand piano in combination with a horizontally disposed string plate, a case including a lframe supporting the said plate, a top xedly mounted above the string plate in spaced relation thereto, and a rim encompassing the frame having portions extending to the top and having openings extending between said portions and in substantial registration with the space between string plate and the top, together with means comprisinf7 a grille subdividing opennes to permit emanatlon of sound laterally from the instrument.

T. In an upright piano in combination with a vertically disposed string plate, a case including a vertical panel supported in spaced relation to the string plate, said case having lateral openings registering with th-e space between the string plate and said panel to permit emanation of sound laterally from the instrument.

8. In an upright piano in combination with a vertically disposed string plate, a oase including walls extending peripherally adjacent the string plate, and a panel extending in a plane substantially parallel to said string plate in spaced relation thereto, one or more of said peripherally extending walls having a grille formation registering with the space between the string plate and said parallel wall to permit emanation of sound from the instrument.

9. In a piano, a string plate, a sounding board at one side of the string plate and a case which includes a wall extending peripherally adjacent the string plate, and another wall in a plane parallel to said string plate in spaced relation thereto and at the opposite side of the string plate from the sounding board, a portion of the case being laterally open opposite the space between 'the sounding board and said parallel wall to permit the emanation of sound laterally from the instrument, such opening extending transversely of the plane of the string plate.,

lli. In a piano, a frame which carries the string plate, a sounding board at one side of the string plate, means extending from the frame transversely of the plane of the string plate at intervals, and a wall permanently supported by said means in iixed spaced relation to the frame and string plate and at the opposite side of the string plate from the sounding board, leaving openings deiined by said means, said wall and said frame for the emanation of sound laterally from the instrument, said openings extending transversely oi the plane of the string plate.

ll. In a piano, a case including a frame which carries the string plate, means extending from the frame transversely of the plane of the string plate at intervals, and a wall permanently supported by said means in iixed spaced relation to the frame and string plate, leaving openings in the case defined by said means, said wall, and said frame, together with reticulated panels extending between said means and occupying the openings dei-ined by said means, said wall and said traine, to permit the emanation of sound laterally from the instrument through said reticulated panels.

CYRIL FARNY. 

